Pep Guardiola launched an impassionate account of expectations at Manchester City after another Champions League blow in midweek.
Guardiola revealed that he had not spoken to his browbeaten players following the bruising 6-5 defeat by Real Madrid in the semi-finals and plans to address them on Saturday.
The 51-year-old, speaking with the emotion of a man committed to signing a new contract at the Etihad Stadium, suggested he might not be able to ever deliver European glory to the club.
But Guardiola fired back at critics who branded his side a failure and claimed his team lacked character during a charged press conference.